poyer



June 7, 1955 c. E. POYER 2,709,317

BACK REST FOR CONVERTIBLE COUCH BEDS Filed April 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

CHARLES E. PoYER,

Armwwsx June 7, 1955 c. E. POYER 2,709,817

BACK REST FOR CONVERTIBLE COUCH BEDS Filed April 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES E. POY-E R By QQMMM lrraluvzr.

United States Patent BACK REST FOR CONVERTIBLE COUCH BEDS Charles E. Poyer, Miami Beach, Fla.

Application April 8, 1952, Serial No. 281,183

2 Claims. (Cl. -59) This invention relates to improvements in back rests and has particular reference to means for the inclined support of upholstered pillows or the like in a manner to convert the conventional twin bed couch into a comfortable seat having a recognized seat area corresponding to couches of conventional design.

The invention relates to a back rest for use with bed couches having the usual and well recognized width of such couches and to provide means wholly unconnected with the bed couch, whereby the conventional upholstered pillows of a desirable number, may be arranged against the back rest in a manner to position the pillows forwardly of the inner side of the couch whereby a seating area is provided that corresponds to a conventional chair or couch and to thereby avoid undue strain upon the legs of the user.

The invention contemplates a plurality of relatively rigid frame members that have resting engagement with the floor and which are associated with the bed couch in a manner to overlie the upper inner surface thereof and to provide a novel upholstered pillow support that may be quickly and easily swung to an upward fixed position and at an elevation that will provide for the full use of the bed surface, the upward shifting of the pillow support providing a rack that will receive the conventional upholstered pillows.

The invention further contemplates a back support that is swingably supported on relatively rigid floor engaging members, with the back support being positioned forwardly of the rear portion of the bed and to thereby produce an enclosed area in which the usual sleeping pillows or blankets may be stored when not in use, the blankets and pillows being normally hidden by the supported upholstered pillows, the enclosed area being normally provided at its ends with inwardly swinging panels that are hin'gedly supported on the frame members, with the panels serving a dual purpose as a closure means for the storage compartment and as a means to limit the downward swinging movement of the back support to insure that it will be accurately inclined.

Novel features of construction and operation will be more clearly pointed out during the course of the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated a preferred construction and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, an associated bed being shown in dotted lines,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a hinge connection for a swingable back rest embodied in the invention,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the device of Figure 1, the bed being shown in dotted lines,

Patented June 7, 1955 "ice Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5 and,

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail section, taken on line 7-7 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numerals 5 and 6 designate end frames as a whole. Each frame 5 and 6 comprises vertically arranged and spaced apart tubes 7 and 8. The tubes 7 and 8 at their upper ends are bent at a right angle to form supporting arms 9 and 10. The several arms 9 and 10, jointly support a shelf 11, connected with the arms by brackets 12 or other desirable means. The shelf preferably extends beyond the arms 9, as clearly shown. Base members 13, consisting of L-shaped legs 14, have adjustable connection with the lower terminal ends of the tubes 7 and 8, through the medium of sleeve 15, for a purpose to be later described. Each pair of leg portions 14 are rigidly tied together by tubular braces 16, welded or otherwise connected thereto. The horizontal portions of the legs 14 are adapted to rest upon the floor and to project beneath a conventional bed, indicated by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, as at 17. In normal use, the base members 13 and frames 5 and 6 are located against the Wall of the room, with the shelf projecting forward, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Since in some building constructions, the usual base board projects beyond the Wall surface, bumper strips 18 are rigidly fastened to the rear of each tube 7 and 8 and these bumper strips have a thickness approximately that of the base board. The frames 5 and 6 are thus positioned against the wall and braced against rearwardly rocking movement by the strips 18.

' Each of the outer arms 9 project slightly forwardly of the shelf 11 and their ends are forked, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4. Extending across the forks 19, is a generally rectangular shaped pin or bar 20, fixed to the opposite ears of each fork, as by riveting. Swingably supported on the bars or pins 20, are combined hinges and locks 21, having a semi-circular loop 22 and an elongated key opening 23, of a dimension to engage over the bar 20. The hinge 21 is provided with a hub extension 24 that has fixed engagement in the free ends of a generally U-shaped back rest 25. The back rest is preferably rigidly braced longitudinally by a tubular bar 26, welded to the end portions as shown. The back rest is adapted to swing in a vertical plane to be disposed in locked position, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 and, when the back rest is swung to a vertical position, the key opening 23 engages over the rectangular bar 20 and prevents swinging of the back rest during the time the bed 17 is to be used for sleeping purposes. With the back rest in the vertical locked position, a rack is provided for the upbolstered pillows, consisting of the back rest 25 as the outer wall, the building wall as the inner wall and the shelf 11 as the bottom. Thus, the pillows are quickly and easily supported in a convenient manner without the necessity of placing them on the floor or to pile them in adjacent chairs.

It is contemplated, that the back rest shall be inclined as shown and that the upholstered pillows shall be supported thereagainst so that their lower forward edges are positioned with respect to the surface of the bed, as to provide a recognized seating area of approximately twentytwo inches, this width having been found most desirable. Means are provided to support the back rest at its predetermined angularity, consisting of end panels 27, having their forward free edges grooved at 28 for the resting engagement of the end portions of the back rest 25. As clearly shown, the forward edges of the panels 27 are angularly disposed, while the rear edges and tops and bottoms are formed straight and at right angles. The rear edge of each panel 27 is cut out both longitudinally and transversely for the seating engagement over the frame members 7. Bands 29 embrace the members 7 and are secured to the panels in any desirable manner, as by wood screws, not shown and serve to provide spaced apart hinge means for each panel, whereby the panels may swing in a horizontal arc inwardly, as clearly shown in Figure 6. The panels are prevented from slipping downwardly on the frame members 7, by the engagement of one of the bands upon the top of an adjacent strip 18, shown clearly in Figure 2. The panels 27 thus serve both as a stop rest for the back rest 25, but also serve as closure ends for the storage space that is provided behind the back rest and for the full length of the device. With the end panels swung outwardly to the full line position shown, sleeping pillows, blankets or the like are arranged in stacked relation upon that portion of the top of the bed 17 which will be overhung by the attachment of this invention. The back rest 25 is then lifted upward to disengage its locking hinge and swung downwardly until its end members rest within the grooves 23 of the end panels. The upholstered pillows are then arranged against the back rest in the recognized manner, entirely hiding the blankets and sleeping pillows from view. Ornamental articles may be arranged upon the shelf l]. as desired. As clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7, the panels 27 have a thickness greater than the tubes 7 and, when the rear vertical edges of the panel are cut away for the seating reception of the tubes 7, a flange 30 is provided, see Figure 6, whereby the tubes 7 are completely hidden when the panels are in the closure and supporting position. A suitable design of molding 31 is aifixed to the bottom of the shelf 11, with its lower edge being flush with the outer surface of the end panels when the end panels are in closure and supporting position. Thus, the device presents a pleasing appearance, with no abrupt corners, hinges or other operating features exposed that might detract from an ornamental piece of furniture. The entire device may be easily varied in length to accommodate couch seats employing upholstered pillows for its full length or, to accommodate bolster rolls at opposite ends with intermediate upholstered pillows. When employing the bolster rolls, the shelf 11 will be formed shorter and the frames 5 and 6 set inwardly further from the ends of the couch. In normal use, with the pillows only, the terminal ends of the shelf are slightly overhung by the outermost pillows, thus successfully hiding the frames and end panels.

In the use of the device, the desirable location of the couch is first determined, after which the support is arranged against the wall in abutting relation. The couch is then shifting against the supporting tubes 7 and 8, with the conventional legs of the couch being straddled by the base members 14. Tne arrangement of the base members is such as to accommodate itself to couches having either attached legs, or to the well known metallic frames having caster legs, regardless of the degree at which its end legs shall be set inward from the end of the couch. In the normal fixed leg supported couches, the base members will extend under the couch inwardly of its outer legs. In the event the bed is slightly higher or lower than the lower marginal edge of the end panels, the entire frames can be easily adjusted as to height through the medium of the sleeves adjustments 15. The arrangement of the inclined back rest and end panels provide a novel and most desirable storage compartment for bed clothes and sleeping pillows, while the back rest when swung to upper latched position provides a novel rack for the support of the upholstered pillows. The latch means for the back rest is extremely simple and will automatically lock the rest in position when swung to its maximum height and will be readily released for downwardly swinging movement by merely lifting the rest bodily upward and swinging it forward.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that a very desirable and highly effective back rest has been provided that will easily and simply convert the conventional twin bed into an ornamental and comfortable couch that has a conventional seating area. The support offers no difficulty when the couch is to be employed as a sleeping bed and further, having no positive connection with the bed structure, permits the bed to be shifted outwardly to facilitate the spreading of the sheets and blankets in the usual way and, when the device is being used as a sleeping bed, all operating parts are well out of the way and offers no interference to the use of the complete bed area. The structure is simple, cheap to manufacture and highly effective for the purposes designed.

While a preferred embodiment of the device has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that minor structural changes shall be made as clearly fall within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the character described in combination with a twin bed, comprising a pair of frames having base supports, the frames being disposed in spaced relation along one longitudinal side of the bed, the frames being of a height to extend above the surface of the bed and having portions thereof overlying the surface of the bed, a supporting shelf connected with the overlying portions, hinge means carried by certain of the overlying portions, an upholstered pillow supporting frame connected with the hinge means to swing in a vertical plane, the pillow frame being normally rearwardly inclined and spaced from the surface of the bed, the pillow frame, the shelf and the overhung portion of the bed jointly forming a storage compartment for the accommodations of bed clothes, horizontally swingable end panels carried by the first named frames and jointly serving to close the ends of the storage compartment and to provide a stop for the downwardly swinging movement of the pillow frame, the pillow frame being swingable to a position through a vertical plane to form a rack for the temporary support of the upholstered pillows with the shelf forming the bottom of the rack, and means included in the hinge means to retain the pillow frame in the rack forming position against accidental shifting.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the end panels are hingcdly connected to the first named frames to swing to a position for fully exposing the entire surface of the bed when the pillow frame is shifted to rack forming position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,269,607 Steffen Jan. 13, 1942 2,483,296 Murtagh et al Sept. 27, 1949 2,554,799 Sprunger May 29, 1951 2,579,921 Gibbs Dec. 25, 1951 

